Trump global media chief probes pro-Biden VOA content

he of U.S.-funded global media has ordered an investigation into posting of a video pack featuring former Vice President Joe Biden on a Voice of America website and affiliated social media accounts.

ncy for Global Media chief Michael Pack said Thursday his staff is looking into segment that it called “pro-Biden” and weighing disciplinary action against those responsible. content, which appeared on VOA’s Urdu-langu website and its Twitter, Instagram and Facebook accounts this month, has since been removed and may have violated federal law, ncy said.

Pack has drawn criticism from both Democrats and Republicans for initiating a major shakeup of ncy that oversees VOA and its sister networks. Many Democrats fear he wants to turn outlets into Trump propaganda machines. His response to video pack could intensify those concerns while heartening VOA critics, including at White House, who believe ncy is biased against Trump.

“ content at issue featured a video that can only be described as an apparent election vertisement for presumptive Democratic presidential minee and former Vice President Joe Biden,” AGM said of segment on a voter mobilization campaign, kwn as “Million Muslim Votes,” that highlighted Biden speaking to Muslim Americans.

AGM said its manment is concerned that video, which carried VOA logo, may have been intended to affect votes among Urdu-speaking Muslim-American community in upcoming vember election. It also ted that two of Trump's biggest congressional foes — Democratic Reps. Ilhan Omar of Minnesota and Rashid Tlaib of Michigan — were featured in video, which was flagged late Tuesday by conservative activists.

Pack has been struggling to tamp down conservative anger at his decision to wholesale fire hes of all of AGM's brocasters and a n-profit techlogy fund. In a statement, Pack said he wanted to find out who was responsible for “this significant content and editorial breakdown” and determine wher it violates Hatch Act, which governs political activity of federal workers.

“USAGM staff members who attempt to influence American elections will be held accountable," he said. “Our networks comprise U.S.’s megaphone to world, and this invaluable instrument is generously funded by American people. To safeguard our ncy’s reputation and integrity of our content, I will continue to ensure that violations of journalistic standards and principles are dealt with swiftly and fairly.”

Congressional aides familiar with matter said several VOA contractors h been responsible for content but could t say if any action h been taken against m. aides, who weren't authorized to discuss matter publicly, spoke on condition of anymity.

In dition to mass firings, Pack has also initiated a review of visas for foreign employees, many of whom bring critical langu skills needed to communicate with foreign populations that are primary audiences for AGM brocasts, and undertaken a security review of how foreigners are hired.

Pack, a conservative filmmaker and associate of former Trump political viser Steve Bann, has defended moves as necessary to roverhaul ncy, which critics have long said is beset by bureaucratic and journalistic issues. That criticism exploded earlier this year when White House attacked VOA for its cover of COVID-19.

Democrats, who suspect Pack wants to promote Trump over broer American values and interests, and some Republicans have demanded explanations for his abrupt dismissal of hes of Rio Free Europe/Rio Liberty, Rio Free Asia, Middle East Brocasting Networks and Open Techlogy Fund. director and deputy director of VOA resigned within days of Pack taking control of AGM in early June.